Match Preview
Against the backdrop of the Wayne Rooney saga and the potential disappointment
in the loss of the Blues' jewel in the crown, it's easy to forget last
weekend's superb result at Crystal Palace and the enormous moral boost it
represented to David Moyes's men.
But while the off-field controversies rage, West Bromwich Albion come
to Goodison on the back of a solid start in their return to the Premiership
with three consecutive draws.
Everton did the double over Gary Megson's side two seasons ago and victory
again over the Baggies would prevent a fourth consecutive home defeat.
Indeed, the Blues haven't picked up a single point at Goodison since mauling
Spurs 3-1 back in April.
Tim Cahill is back from his Olympic adventure with Australia but serves
the third and final game of the suspension he picked up playing for Millwall
last season. In his stead, Lee Carsley is likely to partner last week's
hero Thomas Gravesen, with Leon Osman and Kevin Kilbane out wide.
In defence, both Joseph Yobo and Alan Stubbs appeared to come through
the Selhurst Park test unscathed and Moyes probably would have named an
unchanged back four ahead of Nigel Martyn were it not for Gary Naysmith's
suspension following his red card last weekend. Alessandro Pistone will
likely replace the Scot at left back.
Up front, Kevin Campbell has apparently shaken off the knee injury that
forced him to retire from the action midway through the second half last
week but he remains an uninspiring choice when James McFadden's unpredictable
talent is available. Nevertheless, it would be a surprise if he didn't
start if passed fit.
Obviously this is another must-win game, particularly with Manchester
United — and with our dreadful record against them one of the clearest
portents of doom at Old Trafford — looming on Monday. And if Moyes's
boys perform the way they did at Palace last week, they should win comfortably.
If the week's events and any protests from the stands don't prove too
big a distraction.
Lyndon Lloyd
Matchday Stats
This will be the 145th meeting between
Everton and West Bromwich Albion in all competitions, and the 73rd at
home. This match will be the 3rd meeting in the Premier League, and the
2nd at Goodison Park.
Everton's full record against West Brom
is:
|
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
Premier League |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
1 |
Division One |
130 |
50 |
31 |
49 |
220 |
219 |
Division Two |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
2 |
FA Cup |
9 |
4 |
2 |
3 |
11 |
7 |
League Cup |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
TOTALS:
|
144 |
58 |
33 |
53 |
239 |
231 |
Our record at Goodison Park against West
Brom is:
|
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
Premier League |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
Division One |
65 |
37 |
14 |
14 |
143 |
83 |
Division Two |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
FA Cup |
4 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
8 |
2 |
League Cup |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
TOTALS:
|
72 |
42 |
15 |
15 |
155 |
88 |
The last match between the sides was on
12 April 2003 when goals from David Weir and Kevin Campbell cancelled out
a goal from Balis. The last match between the sides at Goodison Park was
on 23 November 2002 when a 35th minute Tomasz Radzinski goal gave Everton
their sixth consecutive Premier League victory and their fifth consecutive
1-0 scoreline.
There have been 9 Everton hat-tricks in
all matches against West Brom, however, the last one was scored by Alan
Ball in Everton's 4-0 victory at Goodison Park on 28 September 1968, with
Colin Harvey getting the other goal. The most famous Everton "hat-trick"
against West Bromwich Albion was Jack Southworth's 6-goal haul on 30
December 1893 which still stands as the highest number of goals scored by
an Everton player in a single match.
Southworth's 6 goals helped Everton to
their biggest victory against West Brom, with Jack Bell getting a seventh
as Everton ran out 7-1 winners. West Brom's biggest victory came almost
30 years later on 24 November 1923 at The Hawthorn's which they won 5-0.
The most common victory for Everton
against West Brom is shared between a 1-0 victory and a 2-1 victory which
have both happened on 11 occasions of Everton's 58 wins. West Brom's most
common victory is 1-0 happening 9 times in Albion's 53 victories. The
most common draw between the teams is 1-1, which has occurred 15 times in
the 33 draws between the sides.
Everton's record for 28 August is:
|
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
Premier League |
3 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
4 |
Division One |
13 |
1 |
4 |
8 |
10 |
23 |
League Cup |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
TOTALS:
|
17 |
2 |
5 |
10 |
13 |
27 |
This is the first time that the sides
have met on this day. The last match Everton played on this day was the
first meeting between Everton and Birmingham City in the Premier League in
2002 when a last minute David Unsworth goal secured a 1-1 draw at Goodison
Park.
Charles Menham was born in Bromley on
this day in 1896. Signed from Northern Nomads during the 1925-26 season,
Charles made just 3 appearances for Everton before returning to his former
club later in the same season.
Also born on this day in 1975 was Gareth
Farrelly from Dublin. Gareth signed in July 1997 from Aston Villa before
moving on to Bolton Wanderers in December 1999. During his time at the
club Gareth made 21 appearances and 9 substitute appearances, whilst
scoring 2 goals. The first of these was against Scunthorpe United in the
1997-98 League Cup whilst his other goal was one of the most important in
the club's history in the final league game of the same season. Gareth
scored in the seventh minute in Everton's 1-1 draw with Coventry City,
whilst down in London Chelsea defeated Bolton Wanderers thus ensuring
Everton stayed in the Premiership on goal difference!
Andrei Kanchelskis played for Russia in
their 2-2 draw with Brazil on this day in 1996 which is the only
international appearance by an Everton player on this day.
Milestone's that can be reached in this
game:
-
If Duncan Ferguson
starts the match, it will be his 150th start for Everton in the league.
-
If Everton are
defeated then they will have the unenviable distinction of setting a new
club record for consecutive defeats at home in the Premier League. The
current run of three consecutive home defeats has matched the record set
twice during the 1993-94 season! The overall club record is a miserable
run of 7 consecutive home matches set over the 1957-58 and 1958-59
seasons.
Steve Flanagan

The King is Dead
Travelling up to Goodison this morning, my main thought was what
effect the events of the past few days would have on the team. In
many ways, this was an even bigger test than last week's excellent
away win at Palace. Would minds be on the job in hand (3 pts) or
would they still be digesting the acres of press coverage that has
been generated on the topic that every blue has dreaded but deep
down knew was always going to happen.
The team was predictable Pistone for the suspended Naysmith the
only change. We started extremely well. Less than two minutes into
the game, Kilbane flicks a Gravesen long throw (where did that skill
come from?) to the backpost where the smallest man on the pitch,
Leon Osman rose to head the ball back across the keeper into the
far corner. Shock, horror, the Blues take the lead!
Disappointingly, we immediately let West Brom straight back into
the game. The third of three quick corners left Scott Dobie with
a header and he made no mistake planting it firmly past Martyn into
the net. Six minutes gone, 1-1.
The remainder of the first half consisted of a number of good chances
that the Blues were unable to put away. Osman put a carbon-copy
header past the post this time, rather than inside it, Yobo had
a superb header from a corner saved by Hoult, Campbell was put
through superbly by Bent but it's a long time now since Campbell
could outpace even the most pedestrian of centre-halves. If only the roles had
been reversed.
Second half brought more of the same... we had lots of possession
without really looking like scoring. West Brom were very poor...
they look organised and work hard as a team but after the goal,
I can' 't remember Martyn having anything to do.
Finally, Moyes did the decent thing and took Campbell off and brought
Dunc on. Immediately we looked dangerous. Duncan put himself about,
eventually niggling Darren Purse into fouling him on the edge of
the box. Carsley whipped the ball in hard and, guess who was standing
on the edge of the 6-yard box to glance in his second header of
the match, Prince Leon Osman!
We could and should have scored more. Duncan had a header saved
by Hoult, Bent had a run and shot deflected over the bar and one
of the most obvious penalty claims of the season was amazingly turned
down by ref. Rob Styles. In the end, we relaxed a bit too much in midfield and, rather than
than killing the game off, nearly let West Brom back into the game.
Ratings:
- Martyn 6 - Had nothing to do so its hard to give him any sort of
mark really.
- Hibbert 4 - Really poor today. He appears to have completely lost
his confidence. His first thought appears to always be to get rid
of the ball, rather than take it on, beat someone and get in a good
cross. On this form, he's not a Premiership player.
- Pistone 4 - Equally as poor as Hibbert today. Full back is becoming
a serious problem for Moyes...
- Stubbs 6 - Started off poorly but improved in the second half. However, he was only having to deal with a non-existent attack. Monday will be a different story...
- Yobo 8 - Very nearly my man of the match. He held the defence together
superbly. Without him we might have been in bigger trouble.
- Kilbane 7 - Lots of endeavour as you'd expect from KK
- Carsley 7 - Played the holding role in front of the defence well.
- Gravesen 8 - 8 for Tommy from me is going some! This is what we
pay him to do but as of last season, we hardly ever saw. He bossed
the midfield, was everywhere, chased back (well, some of the time),
won tackles and generally put himself about. Maybe he's just trying
to attract prospective buyers. Don't knock it enjoy it while we
can.
- Osman 9 - The second goal was the clincher for the MotM. For those
old enough and Welsh enough to remember King Barry John, Osman has
a similar ability to ghost into areas completely unnoticed. Time
and time again he'd suddenly pop up in dangerous areas in the box,
completely unmarked. He might just be the new hero to replace you
know who.
- Campbell 6 - If we didn't already know it, today was just the
confirmation that Campbell's time is up. Bent playing him through
was the defining moment - no-one got out of their seats since everyone
knew that he wasn't going to get anywhere near the goal. Taxi....
- Bent 8 - My first sight of him and I'm impressed. We've replaced
Radzinski by a guy who's younger, stronger and who cost less. Good
business all round. He worked extremely hard, eventually getting
a standing ovation for some incessant chasing in the second half.
- Ferguson 7 - Did more in 10 minutes after he came on that Campbell
had done all game.
Moyes 10 the guy played everything well, from a cool, calm pre-match
interview on Football Focus to excellent organisation and motivation
of the team today.
Overall, a good three points against a team that will be down amongst
the dead men come May. Just like last week, this was another 6-pointer
that we had to win.
So, what of the future? Unless a miracle happens, Wednesday will
be Day One AR (after Rooney). The king is dead..... long live the
Prince !
Jonathan Martin

Leon lifts the gloom in Wayne's old world
Guy Hodgson at Goodison Park
The club crest that greets you as you enter Goodison Park boasts
a motto that has had a hollow ring to it for nearly 20 years. "Nil
Satis Nisi Optimum" it reads, "Only The Best Is Good Enough", and
today even Evertonians normally too blind-eyed to recognise reality
are embarrassed by the standards that implies.
The best? As Wayne Rooney, who can lay claim to being the most
talented teenager in the world, prepares to leave Everton this week,
the club should consider calling in a painter. "We'll have to make
do with what we can keep" would seem an appropriate message.
They made do yesterday, gaining a win over West Bromwich Albion
thanks to two goals from Leon Osman, but it was hardly the
performance of thoroughbreds. Rather, Everton resembled a team
scrapping for points against opponents likely to be with them at the
wrong end of the Premiership table next May, a scenario repeated too
often in recent years.
"The players and myself wanted to show how together we are here,"
the Everton manager, David Moyes, said as news broke that Manchester
United had outbid Newcastle United's 23.5m bid for Rooney. "This is
a great football club and it will go on long after I've gone and
after any players or chairmen go. I've said many times this is the
club for the people of Liverpool."
Moyes would not comment on the latest bid from Old Trafford, but
it is he who will have to keep the club going forward on restricted
means even if some of the Rooney money is made available to him.
It is hard times at the Goodison club who were once were natural
inhabitants of England's Big Five and now, with boardroom battles
and debts of 40m, would have to justify a place in the top 15. Most
football institutions have to sell their assets at some time but it
is usually the smallest of minnows who have their jewels prised from
them before the youngsters have learned to shave.
Rooney, who seems likely to move to Old Trafford or St James'
Park for a fee above 25m within the next 48 hours, is an
exceptional 18-year-old but his decision to ask for a transfer from
the club he has supported all his life is like the final admission
the glory days, that were last truly enjoyed in 1985 and 1987 when
they won the championship, are increasingly unlikely to return.
Goodbye Wayne, hello mediocrity, and is that relegation on the
horizon?.
"I am saddened and disgusted at the way fans have been treated
over the last few years," a letter in the Liverpool Echo last night
read. "I didn't think it could get any worse." Another was equally
gloomy. "I plead with you not to sell. If Rooney goes, so does any
hope or aspiration for Everton."
The mood was bleak at Goodison yesterday but, surprisingly, there
were no demonstrations or banners before the kick-off. A police
helicopter hovered menacingly above, but within the stadium there
was a quiet resignation about a transfer that has moved quickly in
the last few days but has been hanging over Everton ever since
Rooney made a stellar impact for England at the European
Championship in Portugal.
Events on the pitch showed almost as much acceleration because
within seven minutes Goodison had witnessed two goals amid enough
mistakes to last half a season.
The supporters kept their heads amid the swirl of emotions, which
is more than can be said for the defenders from both sides. The
first back four to go missing belonged to the visitors when they
allowed Kevin Kilbane to win a header from Thomas Gravesen's
second-minute throw-in and then disappeared all together when Osman
arrived at the back post to aim a looping header over Russell Hoult.
Given the bad news that has been emanating out of Everton in
recent weeks, it all appeared too good to be true, and so it worked
out because Albion were level within five minutes. Jonathan
Greening's corner from the right was met by a virtually unopposed
header from Scott Dobie who rose at the near post to comprehensively
beat Nigel Martyn. One man who does know how to use his head is
Duncan Ferguson and it was the towering Scot's aerial nuisance that
won Everton a free-kick and the winning goal after 70 minutes.
Albion's defence had not distinguished themselves with the first
goal and they failed to do so again, leaving Osman alone on the
penalty spot to divert Gravesen's free-kick in with his head.
It was not pretty but it was a win and it gave the home
supporters enough heart for them to give vent to their feelings.
"One greedy bastard," they chanted and you suspect there will be
more of the same when Everton play their next match at, of all
places, Old Trafford tomorrow.
Rooney, who once lifted his shirt to reveal the slogan "once a
Blue, always a Blue" said that his decision to ask for a transfer
had been the hardest of his life and, as an Evertonian, he will
empathise with the difficult question his fellow supporters will
have to make: should I watch a team who propose to bring in the
Liverpool reject Djimi Traor through one door as the wunderkind
disappears through another? On second thoughts, maybe that is not a
difficult decision at all.

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